Djokovic Opens Up On Future Plans After Australian Open Exit
Tennis Legend, Novak Djokovic has revealed that the 2025 Australian Open could be his last tournament in Melbourne after his heartbreaking exit.
Djokovic retired injured in his semi-final clash after losing the first set to Alexander Zverev to bow out of the tournament, extending his wait for a record 25th Grand Slam title.
He has now gone five Grand Slams without winning a single title to surpass Margaret Court’s 24 and become the all-time leader.
The 37-year-old failed to win a Grand Slam for the first time in seven years in 2024, after winning his last title at the 2023 US Open.
The Serbian was booed off in Melbourne after he surrendered to Zverev, he has now stated that the tournament could be his last in Australia.
He said: “There is a chance. Who knows. I’ll just have to see how the season goes. I want to keep going. But whether I’m going to have a revised schedule or not for next year, I’m not sure.
“I normally like to come to Australia to play. I’ve had the biggest success in my career here. So if I’m fit, healthy, and motivated, I don’t see a reason why I wouldn’t come. But there’s always a chance, yeah.
“I actually thought I played really well, as well as I played in the last 12 months, to be honest.
“I liked my chances if I was physically fit and ready to battle. I think I was striking the ball very well. A lot of positives to take in terms of how I played.
“I did everything I possibly could do to manage the muscle tear that I had.
“Towards the end of that first set I just started feeling more and more pain. It was too much to handle for me.”
“I wish Sascha (Zverev) all the best. You know, he deserves his first Slam. I’ll be cheering for him.”
Djokovic said he was unsure of why the fans resorted to boos after he opted out of the clash due to injury.
He said: “People have come and paid for the tickets expecting a great match and a big fight, which they didn’t get.
“From that perspective, I can understand. I am doing my best to understand them, but I am not sure whether they understand me or if they even want to.”
Zverev urged the fans not to boo any player that can’t continue a match due to injury.
He said: “The very first thing I want to say is, please guys, don’t boo when a player is injured.
“I know everyone paid for tickets and wants to see a five-set match but you have to understand Novak Djokovic is someone who has given absolutely everything to tennis.
“He has won this title with an abdominal tear, he has won this title with a hamstring tear.
“If he cannot continue this match, it means he really cannot continue.”
“I’m happy to be in the final of the Australian Open but, on the other hand, there’s no guy on the tour that I respect more than Novak.
“Whenever I’ve struggled, I could call him, ask him for advice. I wanted it to be a tough five-set match as well.”
Zverev will take on the defending champion, Jannik Sinner in the final on Sunday.
Djokovic Opens Up On Future Plans After Australian Open Exit is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
